After Brouhaha Over Women in Tanks, Israeli Army Wants Women in Warships Too

Haaretz ^ | Dec 09, 2016 | Gili Cohen

[sukhoi-30mki]

The Israel Defense Forces is considering opening additional combat positions to women, including possibly placing women on the Sa’ar 6 warships currently being built in Germany that are to be deployed to protect Israel’s offshore natural gas rigs in the Mediterranean.

The proposed integration of women in combat positions, including the Armored Corps and the Air Force’s search and rescue unit, has sparked opposition among some Orthodox rabbis, particularly over women serving in tank units. In remarks last week on the issue, Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said the IDF was opening more combat roles to women, but added that “no one has yet put males and females [together] in tanks.”

Haaretz has learned that the Israel Navy has shown an interest in placing more women in combat positions on its ships. Women are already serving in the naval units that protect ports and ships and that provide towing services, and as naval officers. Female graduates of the naval officers’ course are not placed in the submarine fleet, however, and there is only one female officer training to command a missile boat.

A naval officer who spoke to Haaretz said the major difficulty presented by the integration of women is their living quarters. A tour of a Sa’ar 4.5 missile ship revealed that sleeping quarters consisted of very congested bunk beds that provided little privacy.

Currently on ships where women are serving, the only separation that they are accorded is a curtain, the officer said, although he said he was convinced that women will serve on the Sa’ar 6 ships now under construction, as the design of the accommodations will allow separate sleeping quarters for women.

read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.757947

[sukhoi-30mki]

File Photo: Israeli naval officers are briefed aboard an Israeli corvette military vessel, docked at the Haifa port, before a drill on international waters.Reuters

read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.757947

[gr8eman]

Must invoke FR Rules!

[Blennos]

Near the top of the photo, just below the radar are 3 sets of 24 tube-like items. Are they missiles or shells? Or something else?

[SJSAMPLE]

Don’t look like RAMs.
Could be chaff dispensors. I think the Israelis use those, too.

[Blennos]

You might be right. It doesn’t look like any of the published weapon systems for this type of boat.

from Wikipedia:

The Sa’ar 6 has a displacement of 2,000 tons and is 90 m (300 ft) long. It is armed with an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun, two Typhoon Weapon Stations, 32 vertical launch cells for Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles, the C-Dome point defense system, 16 anti-ship missiles, the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar, and two 324 mm torpedo launchers. It has hangar space and a platform able to accommodate a medium class SH-60-type helicopter.[

[rjsimmon]

Looks more like the Sa'ar 5

[Grimmy]

Those look like toilet paper roll dispensers.

[Blennos]

You’re probably right. But, still, what is that tube configuration in the first photo?

[rjsimmon]

Looks like a Elbit Systems Deseaver MK II decoy control and launching system.

[Blennos]

Looks like a Elbit Systems Deseaver MK II decoy control and launching system.

This must be a highly classified piece of equipment. I can find almost nothing about it online -- besides the name.

Or it could be, as Grimmy helpfully suggests, a toilet paper roll dispenser array.

[lodi90]

Those look like toilet paper roll dispensers.

---

Probably need extra with all the ladies aboard now.

[Jewbacca]

My experience with boats is extremely limited, but I am in the IDF (airforce) and rather keen on spotting SAMs wherever they may be.

Those appear to be Barak-8ER (”lightning”) anti-missile missile tubes. It’s an extremely fast dual-fuel SAM. They can also be used against aircraft, although that is not the primary purpose.

I believe the USA likes them so much you guys are probably buying them. I know India is buying in bulk and Germany signed a contract.

[rjsimmon]

Not SAM's. Decoy's. The Indian Navy uses them.

[roadcat]

Female graduates of the naval officers’ course are not placed in the submarine fleet, however, and there is only one female officer training to command a missile boat.

My thinking is not a good idea on subs, what with the female pheromones kicking around as a distraction. My niece was in the U.S. Navy on a ship, said she got a lot of ribbing from the guys (of course she's a cute little thing). The training was the best thing she ever did, straightened her out from being a wild teen into a responsible adult. Good for the ladies, but a distraction for the guys.

[Oztrich Boy]

I think it’s the beer.